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Business along Samoei-Soiyet road in Nandi Hills came to a standstill as Kimasas squatters celebrated a court ruling directing the return of their land, more than 50 years after their eviction from the 350-acre property.

The squatters, for a fourth time in a row, won a court battle pitting the community and a leading multinational tea company in Nandi which evicted them in the late 1970s.

Addressing the media in Kimasas land, the squatters led by Mama Milka Chepkwony and Kimasas Cooperative Society Chair Daniel Biwot welcomed their victory in the Lands and Environment Court, saying they had suffered for a long time.

According to the community, police officers deployed by previous governments brutalised their members for demanding justice.

They said some of the victims had died due to old age and those still alive were nursing serious injuries inflicted by law enforcement agencies.

“God has heard our prayers. We see that justice has been served to us at last after the hard struggles,” Milka noted.

Milka’s remarks were echoed by Daniel Biwot who lauded the Kenyan Judiciary for the ruling. She noted that all courts from the High Court, Court of Appeal and even the National Land Commission had previously ruled that they were the bonafide owners of the land.

“We appreciate our local leaders who have stood with us right from Governor Stephen Sang (Governor Nandi County), Our MP Bernard Kitur and elders in this region for standing for justice. We are not waiting for a surveyor to come and give us our shares,” Biwott said.

On his part, Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Bernard Kibor Kitur said the final verdict made by the Lands and Environment Court sitting at the Kapsabet Law Court allowing the landless locals to reclaim their land was highly welcome.

The decision, the legislator said, will now see the land title deed representing Eastern Produce of Kenya altered to Kimasas Cooperative Society.

“This is an area where land injustices were meted to our people but this is the time to bring back the sanity in our region. I lead as an example in offering my electorates justice, thanks to the court for that informed ruling,” Kitur said.

The over 140 families will now receive 350 acres on the Kimasas farm in Nandi Hills.